Cinnamon Whiskey

Cinnamon Whiskey

I had a shooter of this at a fantastic Bar/Restaurant in Tucson, The Trident. A SEAL Team 6 member owns it, he's always buying Shooters for the house, this was really tasty, packed a nice punch going down, anyone ever tried this stuff?

There seem to be a number of 'flavor-inhanced' Bourbons hitting the Market recently.. Maple, Orange, Cherry, Cinnamon, and of course "Bacon". Basically they seem to be higher-proof versions of the Schnapps we have enjoyed now and then.

Just had dinner two days ago in Far North Dallas at a place called Jack Mac's Swill & Grill that had small wood barrels behind the bar in which they infused or flavor-enhanced bourbons, vodka, and gin. They also only serve Texas made beer, wine, and booze.

You know, maybe with the exception of bacon, the infused bourbons are nothing but a marketing gimmick to get women to drink the stuff and expand their market. Jim Beam states that clearly when you take their tour. Turn in your man card if you think otherwise.

I had a shooter of this at a fantastic Bar/Restaurant in Tucson, The Trident. A SEAL Team 6 member owns it, he's always buying Shooters for the house, this was really tasty, packed a nice punch going down, anyone ever tried this stuff?

I once read that durring the gold rush years and the west coast was very much in it's frontier days, Saloon owners would buy a cask of whisky, water it down, but then steep black peppercorns in it to give it such a heat and burn customers assumed it was still high alcohol content. Lot of money made on watered down infused whisky.

The bottle I bought was Evan Williams Cinnamon Reserve. Examining the bottle closely, the word "whiskey" appears nowhere. I conclude that the bottle contains grain neutral spirits with artificial flavoring added. It really doesn't have a whiskey flavor, but the square bottle and caramel coloring gives the impression that it is whiskey while on the store shelf.

As WarToad said, lots of money is made on watered down (70 proof) infused vodka.

I agree. I see most of these concoctions as just bringing down the proof, as is done with spiced rum, except for Kraken, and a few other exceptions. They are very good in hot buttered rum though, and the season is almost upon us.

At one time in my life...many years ago, "Hot Damn" Schapps in the form of "Shooters" were the first several rounds on a night of celebration. Like Oysters on the half-shell, I found them to be better when served by the trayful.

Davydd, you're right on. As much as we are enjoying a whiskey renaissance right now, the major distillers are always looking for ways to recruit newbies. These flavored "whiskeys" have no serious cocktail application. Shooters don't count. Anything that you're supposed to drink as fast as possible? I'll pass.

Distillery's like any other business need to keep adding different products to their brand in order to keep and add new customers. This current trend is just Marketing 101. It may stay around or fade off into the sunset, but for the time being it puts coins in the still---err till. I tried the "Honey Jack" & liked it. It's 70 proof. Didn't check to see if it was still branded as "whiskey" but that's a good point JRPfeff.